Paired and offered with other employee benefits like heath care, employee assistance program providers now tackle everything from more traditional employee issues such as substance abuse and psychological ailments to financial duress, wellness and overall employee stress.

Between the growing number of companies expected to introduce a private exchange later this year and the state-run health insurance exchanges that open for business on Jan. 1, 2014, employee communication will be critical in the coming months, benefits experts say.

As the clock ticks toward 2014, it seems that there is more to the health care reform law than I realized. There's an anti-discrimination provision in the act that could trigger up to a $500,000 fine for a company if a C-suiter, for instance, gets better or even free health benefits that others don't.

The Affordable Care Act will encourage employers to expand incentive programs like cash and games. Some studies back their efficacy. Yet some experts claim incentives undermine personal responsibility rather than encourage it.